Design and Construction
The Cat 23 sits on a fixed stub keel with a retractable centerboard, giving a minimum draft of 2.5 feet and a maximum of 5.5 feet, which suits trailering and shoal exploration alike. At 22.5 feet overall with a 21.33-foot waterline and a 10-foot beam, the hull displaces 6,500 pounds and carries lead ballast in a solid fiberglass layup with a solid fiberglass deck. The gaff cat rig places 435 square feet of sail under a mast 34 feet above the waterline, and the boat’s modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 19.98 reflects a steady rather than explosive pace, with a theoretical hull speed near 6.2 knots. Menger Boatworks built the design in Babylon, New York from 2003 until the company closed in 2004, after which Thompson Boatworks continued construction until 2010.
Rig and Handling
As a gaff-rigged catboat the Menger relies on a single large sail and a transom-hung rudder controlled by a wheel, a configuration that keeps lines led to the cockpit and simplifies shorthanded sailing. The plumb stem and angled transom give her a traditional catboat silhouette, while the centerboard lifts to ease trailing and ground-tackle work in tight creeks. The wheel steering at a transom-hung rudder is a notable departure from the tiller commonly found on boats of this size and type, and pairs with the stub-keel/centerboard combination to make her manageable both on and off the trailer.
Accommodations
Below, the Cat 23 sleeps three: a double V-berth fills the bow, and a straight settee runs along the port side of the main cabin. The galley sits to starboard, amidships, and is equipped with a sink, while an enclosed head lies just aft of the galley on the same side. That arrangement puts the working triangle of berth, galley, and head in a compact but legible plan, and the separation of the port settee from the starboard service spaces keeps the cabin orderly for a boat of her length.
The Verdict
The Menger Cat 23 is a thoughtfully evolved catboat that translates a 1930s Sweisguth pedigree into a trailerable, wheel-steered cruiser with genuine overnight capacity. Its stub-keel-and-centerboard hull, gaff cat rig, and compact three-berth layout make it a practical choice for the sailor who wants traditional lines without sacrificing a head and a real galley.
Pros
- Development of Sweisguth’s Americat 22 with a fixed stub keel and retractable centerboard for trailering and shoal draft
- Gaff cat rig with wheel-steered transom-hung rudder for simple shorthanded handling
- Sleeps three with enclosed head and starboard amidships galley
Cons
- Production history split between two builders with a gap when Menger Boatworks ceased in 2004
